Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-06-03
A Ride for Life.

10 one WHO has given the subject only q
Fual thought, the danger to life and limb
asoldIers profession would seem to re-
principally from the whistling mimic
Or the bursting shell, or, perchance,
deadly thrust OF the snber or bayonet.
The fact is, that all the common modes
exit from life are not only intensified,
modern warfare has added many new
este the list, from the agile heel Of the
Fernment mule to the triple danger of
Steamboat explosion.
support OF this statement we give the
lowing experience in the narrator's own
Pas, he beng one of squad of cavalry
Bca had been surrounded by the enemy,
III order to escape unperceived by
Ut had taken off their sabcrs and hid
NJ that the clanking noise might not
Jay them, and in this manner pass
cugh the lines and escape: Soon after
command found themselves in the
nifty OF where the sabers had been left,
an effort was made to regain them.
says: The Corporal, myself and Nor
VINO had helped secrete the sabers,
detailed; the distance might be two or
miles. 1t was moonlight when
started but soon storm Of
u and rain came up which beat
suy IN our faces. On striking the rail-
We decided to follow that to the river
y Us 1t would shorten the distance. At
;;lossing OF the road and railway was an
tl n, used also as station house. To
.1ls we had to pass for half mile or
;a!ough deep cut on side hill.
'tus me bank rose high over our heads;
ae o.her the earth and rocks had been
WI INTO :. rocky ravine. Once in this
VI, could not turn out. We felt safe
~ however, as We knew the river
~ had been destroyed few days be-
anu we We're sure the railroad would
" " used for some time.
~ !, was also the opinion of the Rebs
.les burned the bridge. We were
,;r mistaken about this, however, Cor in
b ,p"slon OF such moves duplicate bridges
ven prepared by the Government, and
tsa;ns 10 o. US this bridge had been rebuilt
o aus We're running even by this time
s,t yut yer very front lines, which were now
tbr ,ae Etowah River. When about half
a a.u this cut l noticed q colored
w; n'n oown by the station. The rain
ava ,aa were dashing into our faces, and
o lre strung out Indian file, picking our
u v,et the ties. AS l saw this light 1
ms 20 speak of it to my COM
dssh When with sudden cry
Az ua ~ by me, and l saw to my
h hue ,ne headlight of q rushing train
nn ua! almost run US down. To dash
ya at h INTO my horse, which was already
erv , vteak- neck speed over the wet and
nt doa,3' where single misstep was
b was es' ~, was my only resource. The
thick aI NOW now emitting a piercing whis-
scraa sounded in our ears like the
IS, fss I', n, OF an angry tiger. I could
b, O. a. 'ne hot pulsations Of its fiery
for fa IT, on, on! If ever there was a
road d., mat was one. To reach the
d to il was o. our only hope, as the cut ex-
bu, ~ ~ The usual cattle-guards are
lea lea, sAey will be no obstacle to our
Of sRs. suddenly we scatter like q
Mo-! as the wolf springs among
and J ! !. goes to the right, the Cor
faIs .. 10 the left. The Corporars
ashes az ~ ne clears the cattle-guards,
Nv t tne Corporal senseless on the
Ana .1fse clears them with room to
fate C omef bound took him over the
pl Of i. .poral, aud before 1 can regain
u A':n he dashed up the steps and